WHEREAS, Edward E. Clark, Jr., a distinguished conservation advocate and co-founder and longtime president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, will retire in March 2024; and
WHEREAS, a native of Flint Hill, Edward "Ed" Clark worked for some time as an educator at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton and, in 1979, embarked on his career in conservation as president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee; and
WHEREAS, Ed Clark honed his abilities as a nonprofit leader as the first official executive director of what is now the Virginia Conservation Network and, in 1982, founded the nonprofit hospital for native wildlife that would become the Wildlife Center of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, for the past 41 years, Ed Clark has led the Wildlife Center of Virginia, developing it from a small, local wildlife rehabilitation facility into one of the nation's preeminent training and research centers for the care and treatment of wildlife; and
WHEREAS, under Ed Clark's guidance, the Wildlife Center of Virginia has treated nearly 100,000 wildlife patients, trained more than 1,000 veterinary students and professionals from every veterinary school in the United States and Canada and nearly 40 other countries, and informed millions of people through its in-person and online programs and trainings; and
WHEREAS, Ed Clark led the Wildlife Center of Virginia's development of the first comprehensive national wildlife health database in order to monitor the threat of emerging diseases among wildlife and to investigate environmental and pathological issues impacting their health; and
WHEREAS, with Ed Clark's support, members of the Wildlife Center of Virginia staff have advanced wildlife scholarship through groundbreaking clinical research and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications; and
WHEREAS, Ed Clark hosted multiple television series over the years on PBS and Animal Planet and appeared on national programs and channels such as the TODAY show, Larry King Live, and Fox News to promote the work of the Wildlife Center of Virginia and other conservation causes; and
WHEREAS, as a result of Ed Clark's tireless advocacy in the 1980s, the General Assembly voted to amend the Commonwealth's laws regarding the use of pesticides to better protect the health and well-being of wildlife; and
WHEREAS, in his retirement, Ed Clark plans to remain involved in conservation efforts and to continue advocating for the protection of our precious wildlife and natural resources; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Edward E. Clark, Jr., co-founder and future president emeritus of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Edward E. Clark, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his remarkable career and many noteworthy contributions to the Commonwealth.